In case you didn’t hear the news, Jan Pennings was awarded the 2014 Gold Medal from the American Daffodil Society.
Jan Pennings posed for a picture, with the ADS Gold Medal, and wrote the following note to his daffodil friends at the American Daffodil Society;
Dear Daffodil Friends,
What a big surprise for me to hear that I am awarded with the Gold Medal of the American Daffodil Soc. Never expected to receive this highly respected award.And today I got the medal in my hand and on the picture you see a happy man surrounded by the last daffodils we have.We hold the containers back in a cooling room. The varieties are Chromacolor and Sabrosa. Chromacolor a super daffodil bred by Bill Pannill and Sabrosa I got from Delia Bankhead.
It was a big pity that I was not present at the Convention in Little Rock but the announcement was no less surprising.
I want to thank the Board and all the members of the ADS for the honour and hopefully we can have soon a drink together to celebrate this special happening for me.
With a flowergreeting and many kind regards. Jan and Ans Pennings
The ADS issued the following press release after the 2014 ADS convention;
Little Rock, AR – At the March 28TH annual meeting, held at the 2014 American Daffodil Society Convention in Little Rock, AR, Jan Pennings of Breezand, Holland was awarded the 2014 American Daffodil Society Gold Medal.
The American Daffodil Society Gold Medal is awarded each year for Meritorious Service in recognition of accomplishment of a preeminent nature in the understanding and advancement of daffodils.
The recipient of this award has been an enthusiastic, life-long ambassador for daffodils and has taken his role as daffodil ambassador and educator to all parts of the world where daffodils grow. Mr. Pennings has been active for many years with the American Daffodil Society, serving on the Board and as a speaker and panelist on many occasions. He has been a member of the RHS Daffodil and Tulip Committee for almost 20 years and this year became Chairman of the new Bulb Committee. He also served on the RHS Trials Committee for several years.
Mr. Pennings serves on the Board of Keukenhof, and was the Director for the past 5 years. He was Chairman of the Dutch portion of the 2008 European World Daffodil Convention. He is an accredited judge of daffodils, and was instrumental in presenting the ADS with the Dutch Trophy, to be contested yearly at the ADS annual daffodil show. He was accorded the honor as a “Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau” from the Queen of the Netherlands for his outstanding work for various social organizations.
The American Daffodil Society has a tradition of honoring individuals who have contributed to the betterment of daffodils and the American Daffodil Society. Mr. Pennings joins a prestigious group of individuals from around the world who continue to give their superior meritorious service to the American Daffodil Society.
Congratulations Jan & Ans. An award truly deserved. And lovely to see the last of the daffodils too. The Copper Queens you gave me lasted a full week in our London B&B and created great interest in the ‘Aliens’ queue back at Gatswick airport when we waited a full 90 minutes to be reprocessed. May you have another successful & satisfying display at Chelsea this year. Margaret & George Seconi NZ
Congratulations, Jan! I only wish I’d had a copy of your photo with the medal before the recent issue of The Daffodil Journal was laid out/sent to press. I fondly recall the dinner we all had at El Charro in downtown Tucson with Becky Fox Matthews, Phil and Bonnie Campbell, John Beck, Spencer and Chriss Rainey and several others. (I must admit you were bold to point to me and say to the young waiter, “I’ll have what he’s having.” But that Reynosa chicken wasn’t bad, was it?). It’s unfortunate that you were unable to attend the convention in Little Rock, but we are happy for you, nonetheless. Again, congratulations!
Congratulations Jan,
Much deserved and so happy to see you with it in your hands. If you are able to make it over next year we will celebrate then.